The country programs like Brazil’s will also enhance leadership and negotiation skills to give indigenous people and local community members an opportunity to actively participate in initiatives related... Show More + to natural resource-based mitigation and climate change adaptation.“This project is very important for supporting the indigenous communities here in the Cerrado,” said, Deborah Wetzel, World Bank Country Director for Brazil. “The proposed project will provide the tools to access resources that will help communities manage the environmental and social impacts of their activities.”Januario Tseredzaro, a member of the Xavante people who lives in the Cerrado, agrees. He says the new Dedicated Grant Mechanism will help Indigenous Peoples as they seek to halt deforestation.“We understand the importance this will have for our projects. Not only for our projects but also for conservation and our fight to keep the Cerrado standing,” Tseredzaro said. “I hope that its success will expand the program to other biomes of Brazil.”On a global level, the Global Learning and Knowledge Exchange Project, to be implemented by Conservation International USA, will help train representatives from indigenous groups and local communities to take part in climate negotiations and to ensure their views are represented. The country programs expand on that training but also include more country-specific initiatives.More countries will soon be proposing their own projects under the Dedicated Grant Mechanism. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso and Peru are in the process of setting up the institutional arrangements for the program in their countries and will be operational later this year. Show Less -

Washington, D.C.—Forests and trees provide many economic, social and environmental services and values, from creating jobs to providing housing, food and energy to delivering carbon sequestration and watershed... Show More + protection.So, in celebration of International Day of Forests, the World Bank would like to shine a spotlight on the importance of forests and sustainable development. Here are five things to know about this critical resource in 2015:An estimated 1.3 billion people—nearly 20 percent of humanity—rely on forests and forest products for their livelihoods, with the majority living on less than $1.25 a day. The most recent evidence, drawn from more than 300 communities living in or near forested areas in 24 developing countries, suggests that the contribution of forests to household incomes in such areas is surprisingly large—28 percent. This is roughly the same as earnings from agriculture.An estimated 25 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices and land-use changes. At the same time, forests absorb about 15 percent of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions, and while 13 million hectares of forests are lost worldwide each year, an area the size of Greece, deforestation rates have declined globally since the 1990s and in some regions (e.g. Asia, Europe) forest cover is actually increasing. Forests are home to about 80 percent of the worlds’ remaining terrestrial biodiversity. Forests are also vital for climate regulation and help maintain the fertility of the soil, protect watersheds and reduce the risk of natural disasters. Some two billion hectares of lost or degraded forests and landscapes could be restored and rehabilitated to functional and productive ecosystems. This would help deliver improved rural livelihoods and food security, greater climate resilience and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation while taking pressure off natural forests. The Bonn Challenge is helping to seize this opportunity. Forests are an important source of energy. For example, 65 percent of the total primary energy supply in Africa comes from solid biomass such as firewood and charcoal. The World Bank supports countries’ efforts to harness the potential of forests to alleviate extreme poverty, increase economic prosperity, and protect and strengthen the environmental role forests play, locally and globally. Show Less -

The die is cast. If we do not act now, rising temperatures will endanger crops, freshwater reserves, energy security and even our health. We talked to World Bank environmental specialist Daniel Mira-Salama... Show More + about the challenges we are facing and the measures we can take to mitigate global warming.Question: What is the purpose of the Turn Down the Heat report series?Response: This innovative report series has been well received because it seats the scientific community and the development community at the same table. It brings together the latest knowledge on climate science and impacts with consequences for development. The first report warned us that if we do not act immediately, the future impact of climate change could minimize all progress made in human development in recent years. The other two reports closely examine climate change impacts and their development implications by region.Q: What is the added value of the third report?R: This third report uses the latest scientific knowledge – including the 5th Assessment Report of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – as well as articles and results that were published after the Intergovernmental Panel’s cut-off date. This knowledge is applied to the analysis of the main climate change challenges for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Mideast and North Africa and parts of Europe and Central Asia.Q: What are the main challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly for the Andean countries? What are the risks?R: The report divides the continent into five regions. Central America and the Caribbean, where the main challenges are related to the increased frequency of natural disasters, especially hurricanes, storms, tidal waves and landslides. Arid areas of Mexico and northeastern Brazil, where the drought is advancing, with major heat waves and challenges for the population. The Southern Cone, the great breadbasket of Latin America, where climate change threatens agriculture and may lead to reduced food production, which could affect the entire region. The Amazon region, where there is a major risk for degradation of ecosystems and tree cover loss, with the consequent loss of ecosystem services, which may also potentially destabilize the entire region given the Amazon jungle’s key role in climate regulation. In the Andean countries, climate change will exert more pressure on local water resources, with changes in the seasonality of rainy periods, extreme precipitation and flooding, droughts and the potential intensification of El Niño phenomenon. Glacier retreat is a major issue in that region, which will create challenges for water management.Q: What do rising sea levels mean for cities and important coastal areas such as Lima, Guayaquil and Manta?R: The impact is clearly worrying. Current predictions point to the increased intensity of storms. Rising sea levels combined with increased storm activity, intense precipitation and tidal waves can produce major flooding, threatening the sustainability of coastal cities, their services and critical infrastructure located along the coast.Q: What is happening with the glaciers?R: In the case of tropical Andean glaciers, the evidence is quite solid and the trend is clear: glaciers are retreating at an accelerated rate, which has even given many of them an expiration date. Evidence indicates that all glaciers below 5,000 meters above sea level will be drastically reduced or disappear by 2030 or 2040, depending on local factors. A general, unequivocal retreat of the tropical glaciers has been observed for decades. The impact of the retreat and possible disappearance of tropical glaciers could be obvious at distinct levels, with the loss of water regulation capacity of the basins and threats to hydroelectric power generation, agricultural and livestock production, clean water supplies and degradation of ecosystems, tourism and others.Q: What about the paramos?R: Paramos are critical highland ecosystems capable of absorbing and releasing water at different times during the rainy and dry seasons, for which reason they serve as regulators of the water basin. Many paramo ecosystems are associated with glaciers, and therefore will be affected by glacier retreat. Changes in precipitation and temperature parameters, as well as the expansion of human activity, can also affect these ecosystems. Cities such as Quito or Bogota depend on nearby paramos for part of their potable water.Q: How can we prepare ourselves? Is mitigation possible?R: Climate change is a complex phenomenon with a variety of implications at all levels, which is why it must be attacked from several fronts. From a mitigation perspective, the focus should be on improving fuel efficiency and reducing the intensity of emissions of the energy, transport, manufacturing and household sectors, to name only a few. In Latin America and the Caribbean, we have some good models, such as that of Ecuador, which has made great strides in using energy from hydroelectric sources. In terms of adaptation, the expected impacts are well known. Latin America and the Caribbean is possibly the most advanced region in terms of specific initiatives using an integrated management approach, improved regulatory and policy frameworks, institutional strengthening and direct investments in infrastructure, programs and projects.Q: What is the result of the work done so far with respect to the retreat of Andean glaciers? What are the next steps?R: The project Adaptation to the Impacts of the Rapid Retreat of Tropical Andean Glaciers, which was successfully completed last year, focused on generating knowledge on glacier dynamics, improved monitoring and specific adaptation activities. In Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, highland monitoring stations were established to provide information for decision-making of the environmental ministries of the countries and other key institutions. Additionally, the program successfully implemented pilot adaptation initiatives to learn about the costs, results and benefits of adaptation in order to design larger-scale projects. The initiatives were related to water distribution efficiency, protection and sustainable management of key ecosystems, improved irrigation, adaptive management of agriculture and others. Currently, another Andean adaptation project is being designed, which focuses on a critical sector by country. Each country will select a sector or sub-sector to evaluate the impact of climate change on that sector, to design policy guidelines for adapting to those impacts, and to make specific investments in selected areas. For example, Ecuador will focus on the management of basins critical for uses such as hydroelectric power. Bolivia will implement activities to improve drainage and reduce flooding. Peru will work in small- and medium-scale agriculture whereas Colombia will concentrate on highland agriculture. This project of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is in the final preparation phase. Show Less -

Protecting a non-renewable resourceJust 2.5% of the world’s water can be used. This water is found in rivers, lakes and snow peaks, among other locations. As demand for water increases, cities are forced... Show More + to depend on sources located further away. These sources are also more expensive to exploit.Agriculture uses approximately 70% of the world’s consumable water. If the global population reaches nine billion by 2050, we will need an even larger share of the supply to meet demand for food.Learning to reuse water, especially in the agricultural sector, is key for responding to the crisis. Unfortunately, up to 90% of untreated wastewater in developing countries flows directly into rivers, lakes and coastal waters. According to World Bank experts, in Latin America, three-fourths of fecal or wastewater returns to the rivers and other water sources, creating a serious health and environmental problem.Water treatment plants such as the Taboada Plant in Lima have become an important part of the solution. Instead of being dumped in the ocean, solid wastes could be reused for fuel, fertilizer and construction materials.Other alternatives demonstrate what else can be done. In Lima, Peru, the host of the 2015 World Bank Annual Meetings, a billboard produces water from the humidity in the air, which can reach 98%. Another project is focusing on improving the city’s outdated water pipes to prevent leaks.Finally, a project in Peru is being implemented to take advantage of Andean Mountain water, which is found in some 7,240 kilometers of snow-covered peaks (the country has 71% of the world’s glaciers). These play a vital role in supplying water to the region but are threatened by melting caused by global warming. Show Less -

Better data monitoringThe report also found that with a few exceptions the World Bank’s projects that were reviewed did not include air pollution control as a primary objective. As a result, these projects... Show More + missed the opportunity to collect critical data, and establish baselines that would help measure the success of air pollution reduction interventions that they supported. Many developing countries lack the infrastructure and standardized methods to collect and interpret data that might inform better decision-making and help set national air quality standards. Better data and systematic monitoring are necessary if countries hope to respond to pollution. Sound analytical data and monitoring of changes over time were some of the critical factors of success in Santiago, Chile, for example, where authorities implemented cleaner transport solutions that were successful in lowering air pollution.World Bank projects in Chile, Mongolia and Peru demonstrate the importance of an active dialogue with all stakeholders in developing countries; the need for integrated approaches that start with identification of all pollution sources and end with identification of cost-effective interventions; and the need to involve multiple sectors – from transport to health, urban planning and agriculture. Experience also shows that where countries have made progress in addressing air pollution, a combination of technical, policy and economic measures were effective: for example, in China, pollution discharge fees were instituted in cities, and Mexico City removed regressive and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.The future of growth in Africa and Asia will largely take place in cities. This urbanization does not have to mean that deadly polluted and un-breathable air will become the new normal. Cleaner transportation, industry, energy, construction, agriculture and waste systems, backed by stronger standards can save lives and support the cities of the future.“Improving air quality can be achieved in the face of urbanization when proactive leaders are willing to institute the right policies and investments,” said Paula Caballero, Senior Director of the Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice at the World Bank. “A nation can have clean air and healthy lungs, in addition to the economic benefits of urbanization.” Show Less -

GEF Grant: US$ 9.59 million equivalentProject ID: P145621Project Description: The objective of the project is to preserve the globally-significant biodiversity of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC),... Show More + a multinational effort to connect natural habitats from Mexico through Central America to Colombia. The GEF grant will complement funding from the government, municipalities and private sector to improve the management effectiveness of protected areas and the livelihoods of 48,450 Panamanians in rural and indigenous communities. Show Less -

WASHINGTON, February 10, 2015 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a US$9.59 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aimed at preserving biodiversity in about 554,000... Show More + hectares of the Atlantic and central-eastern regions of Panama. The GEF grant will complement funding from the Government, municipalities and private sector to improve the management effectiveness of protected areas and improve the livelihoods of 48,450 Panamanians in rural and indigenous communities.The Sustainable Production Systems and Conservation of Biodiversity Project, to be implemented by the National Environment Authority of Panama (ANAM) over five years, will advance safeguarding efforts in seven provinces, two indigenous people’s regions (“comarcas”) and two indigenous people’s territories. It will seek to preserve the resilience of regional ecosystems, and encourage sustainable harvesting and biodiversity-friendly practices among farmers and small producers.“Panama, the Global Environment Facility and the World Bank have worked together to conserve the biodiversity of the Atlantic Mesoamerican Biological Corridor in Panama while improving the productivity of rural, indigenous and extremely poor communities since 1998,” said Dulcidio De La Guardia, Minister of Economy and Finance of Panama. “The new Project will further advance these conservation efforts and will involve not only the beneficiaries, but also local governments, organizations and networks, with transfer of environmental knowledge and new opportunities for income,” De La Guardia said.The US$29 million Project will be funded by the US$9.59 million grant from GEF; US$10.16 million from the Government of Panama; US$8.5 million from two private sector companies (US$2.5 million from AES-Changuinola and US$6 million from Minera Panama, through existing concession agreements with ANAM); US$90,000 from local municipalities and US$630,000 from local beneficiaries.“Preserving biodiversity is important at the global level, but biodiversity is also a significant local source of food, protection, health, recreation, and economic activities. So any negative impact on biodiversity is not only critical for natural species, but also for the people who live near the protected areas,” said Anabela Abreu, World Bank country manager for Panama. “The World Bank is committed to support the country’s efforts to preserve the environment, improve its people’s livelihoods and provide opportunities for all,” Abreu said.The project’s key goals include:Improving the management effectiveness of protected areas with alliances for participatory management (concessions and co-management) and biodiversity monitoring, while assuring the financial sustainability of the conservation efforts.Scaling up biodiversity-friendly production systems and increasing access for community-based organizations and small producers.Raising awareness about biodiversity-friendly products and the economic value of biodiversity; strengthening citizen engagement and capacities (including South-South exchanges), and the promotion of partnerships for the management of protected areas.Project activities will take place in the Bocas del Toro, Coclé, Colón, Chiriquí, Los Santos, Panama and Veraguas provinces; the Guna Yala and Ngäbe-Buglé comarcas; and the Bribri and Naso-Teribe territories, where a large number of the species of conservation concern are found.On the GEF and the World Bank GroupThe Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a partnership for international cooperation where 183 countries work together with international institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector, to address global environmental issues. Since 1991, when the World Bank Group helped to establish it, the GEF has provided $13.5 billion in grants and leveraged $65 billion in co-financing for 3,900 projects in 165 developing countries. For 23 years, developed and developing countries alike have provided these funds to support activities related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, and chemicals and waste in the context of development projects and programs. Show Less -

ContextUrbanization, industrialization and motorization have intensified pollution, especially in developing countries. Vehicle exhaust, untreated wastewater, nitrogen fertilizer runoff, e-waste, dirty... Show More + fuel burning, industrial emissions and toxic waste cause debilitating and fatal illnesses, destroy ecosystems and create unsustainable—even harmful—living conditions. The world’s poor, who can’t afford to protect themselves from the negative impact of pollution, end up suffering the most.In 2012, an estimated 9 million people died from air, water and land pollution, according to the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution. Environmental factors, especially air pollution, cause 24 percent of global disease and 13 percent of deaths every year. About 95 percent of adults and children impacted by pollution-related illnesses live in low and middle-income countries. Addressing and responding to pollution issues not only results in better health for people, but also brings economic gains from increased tourism, improved transport and energy efficiency. To save lives and maintain a livable world for future generations, we must better manage current pollution sources, clean up past pollution, and find innovative solutions for cleaner urban and rural practices. Implementing policies, tools and technologies for avoiding emissions and managing existing pollution sources could save millions of lives, prevent the loss of work hours due to disease, improve business productivity and increase urban and rural competitiveness.StrategyThe World Bank Group works with developing countries and development partners to reduce pollution, implement proper waste management, improve water and air quality and promote clean development. Between 2007 and 2012, 7.7% of Bank commitments—approximately US$ 18 billion—went to activities that addressed short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). In 2014, the World Bank established a Pollution Management and Environmental Health (PMEH) program that will build upon experiences in urban and rural pollution reduction from around the world to promote more systematic and effective responses to rampant and deadly pollution.The Bank provides technical assistance, financing and knowledge products that cover:legacy pollution cleanup and land rehabilitation;management of different forms of waste including solid waste, industrial/e-waste, and wastewater;improving air quality through the reduction of indoor/outdoor air pollution, short lived climate pollutants and GHG emissions;improving water quality, both in freshwater and in oceans;promoting environmentally sustainable mining;helping countries improve environmental governance, regulation and enforcement.ResultsAir pollutionIn response to increased respiratory illnesses in Santiago, Chile, the Sustainable Transport and Air Quality program supported a long-term shift to more efficient and less polluting forms of urban transportation.In Bangladesh, the Bank is working to tackle pollution from the country’s two biggest polluters: brickfields and transport. To date, 11 stations have been installed in eight cities to monitor air pollutants and generate real time air quality data.More results:Curbing air pollution in Ulan BataarCleaner cookstoves for a Healthier IndonesiaCutting Short-Lived Climate PollutantsLand PollutionIn Africa, a $25 million program has removed over 3,000 tons of obsolete and dangerous pesticides from close to 900 contaminated sites in Ethiopia, Mali, Tanzania, Tunisia and South Africa.In Belarus, the Bank worked with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection to develop its capacity to treat and dispose of hazardous waste. The Bank supported a massive cleanup operation at the Slonim burial site, which excavated and disposed of up to 1750 tons of toxic obsolete pesticides.More results:Argentina Solid Waste ManagementCleaning up Uranium in ArgentinaKosovo Energy Sector Cleanup and Land ReclamationRidding Moldova of Toxic ChemicalsSolid Waste Management in IndonesiaWater pollutionIn China, the Bank helped the government establish integrated management of water resources and the environment in the Hai Basin. Between 2004 and 2011, the project reduced wastewater discharge, cleaned over 6 million m3 of polluted sediment from the Dagu Canal, and improved living conditions for millions of people. Also in China, the Bank helped improve water and wastewater services for residents in Ningbo by financing investments in a water intake tower and tunnel, water treatment plant, water transmission pipes, sewers and pumping stations, greatly reducing pollution loads discharged into Hangzhou Bay.In Vietnam, the Bank supported the clean-up of the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe canal, creating more sanitary living conditions for 1.2 million people.More results:Kazakhstan Nura River Cleanup ProjectControlling pollution in Croatia’s Coastal WatersWastewater treatment and landfills ease pollution in China’s Yangtze River Show Less -

Biodiversity initiativesOnce lost, biodiversity never recovers.One of Latin America’s crowning achievements is that 20% of its landmass is being protected in nature reserves. By contrast, only 13% of the... Show More + land in other developing regions is in protected areas. Several projects financed by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and administered by the World Bank are contributing significant non-reimbursable funds to protect the region’s rich flora and fauna.Recent advances in biodiversity investment have demonstrated the importance of safeguarding natural resources for the future. In Peru, a project launched in 2008 is working to conserve flora and fauna both inside and outside of the country’s 77 nature reserves. Through training, management and public policymaking activities, the project works with experts who have managed to preserve five conservation corridors covering approximately six million hectares, 20 times the size of Peru’s capital, Lima. “Corridors are relatively large spaces for protecting biodiversity. In this context, they are a climate change mitigation strategy since they provide the opportunity for species to migrate to other zones with more favorable climates. This is the case of the Andean guanaco, which can survive in the lower temperatures of higher areas or those further south,” says Alvaro Galiour, who served as director of the PRONAMP project “Strengthening Biodiversity Conservation through Nature Reserves” during 2013.Another good practice is in Mexico, where a system for paying for environmental services was recently implemented. In this initiative, property owners are paid to conserve the forests with a view to protecting the ecosystem and reducing the risk of deforestation.Costa Rica has a similar system, where in addition to protecting forests, the country is attempting to neutralize carbon emissions.Remember that planting a tree not only helps us to breathe fresh air but can also serve as the source of the ingredients needed to create those pills that make us feel better when we need them most. Show Less -

The technology that enables us to receive signals from space has advanced by leaps and bounds since the launch of the first satellite, Sputnik, just a few decades ago.Today, in addition to photographing... Show More + the Earth or a comet, monitoring activities from above (“spying” to some) and suggesting the best route to the office, satellites are becoming allies for development.The European Space Agency, for example, is providing data and images to international development organizations, which use them to design and implement projects in Latin America and other regions.“The satellite observation of the Earth provides accurate information and can be used all over the world, but it is particularly useful in environments with little information, which is often the case in developing countries,” says Anna Burzykowska, a project specialist at the World Bank.In Latin America, the information transmitted by satellites is used to prevent disasters, measure water pollution and monitor sea levels. The idea is to contribute to improving the environment for human beings and to help countries make more effective development plans.Below are some examples of the new space odyssey: fighting poverty.The lower water levels of Lake Titicaca in Peru and BoliviaThe Lake Titicaca Basin sits at over 3,500 meters above sea level on the Peruvian-Bolivian border. This area has a population of some three million, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).This landscape is threatened by pollution caused by pesticides, garbage from urban areas and waste from mining operations. Managing and regulating these different sources of contamination require data.Thanks to satellite imagery, the changes in land usage and the reduced water level of Lake Titicaca were visible for the first time. These changes have devastating effects on local biodiversity.Advanced sensors were used to measure water quality; in other words, the presence of suspended matter, chlorophyll or phytoplankton. More importantly, the sensors revealed where contamination was concentrated. “In the case of Lake Titicaca, initial causal links were made between the sources of contamination detected and discharges from inactive mining deposits in the upper basin,” said Burzykowska.According to the expert, this information can be correlated with on-site water quality stations to examine pollution trends and design appropriate measures to avoid more serious problems for the lake, its biodiversity and especially for the three million inhabitants living in the area. Monitoring the health of Central American coral reefsThe Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-longest in the world, is located in front of the coasts of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. From space, satellites have been able to monitor the state of the coral reef and some risk factors, such as water temperature or wave patterns.It was also possible to detect where temperatures were highest. High temperatures can cause discoloration of the coral and affect the flora and fauna inhabiting the reef.The deterioration of the reefs also means less income for people that depend on the good health of the reef, such as those involved in small-scale fishing and tourism.Preventing flooding and landslides in Rio de JaneiroIn 2011, more than 1,000 people died in the floods and landslides that struck the state of Rio de Janeiro. The rebuilding of roads and other infrastructure cost US$ 373 million, according to some studies.To identify ways to avoid such high human and material losses in the future, satellite imagery was used to generate four different scenarios of the same flood event in areas with different land cover status.These demonstrated that flooding propagates more quickly in densely-populated urban areas and that introducing vegetation in the lower watersheds can delay flooding by two hours. In watersheds fully covered by vegetation, peak water flow can be delayed for up to six hours. “This type of information is crucial for developing disaster-prevention strategies and enabling authorities to make informed decisions on adding green and recreational areas and where the most vulnerable assets are located,” according to the report “Earth Observation for Sustainable Development.”Additionally a detailed map of Rio de Janeiro settlements was made and those areas at highest risk for landslides were identified. “The use of this type of information in Latin America and the Caribbean is very promising. The countries of the region have a well-developed potential to absorb technologies with the participation of their institutions and specialist technology centers, whereas government agencies have a solid capacity to apply the information for decision-making,” said Burzykowska.The World Bank and the European Space Agency are also working together to support watershed-management projects in Mexico and forest-management projects in Chile and Argentina, as well as to assess long-term urbanization trends in Lima, Quito and Bogota. Show Less -

Washington, D.C. December 9, 2014 – The World Bank approved today a US$10.4 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aimed at reducing deforestation and preserving biodiversity in close... Show More + to nine million hectares (almost the size of Hungary) in the Caqueta and Guaviare departments of Colombia’s Amazon region. Funding will be used for the Forest Conservation and Sustainability in the Heart of the Colombian Amazon Project, which seeks to improve governance and promote sustainable land-use practices.“The Project lays the ground for a type of land management system that uses a rural development point of view that values conservation and responds to the economic and productive needs of local inhabitants,” said Alberto Galan, Executive Director of Patrimonio Natural, the organization responsible for implementing the donation in coordination with the Ministry of the Environment. “As part of this project, we are in charge of making strategic investments drawing on multiple experiences at the service of more effective processes, based on multi-sectorial partnerships and a long term approach.”The project will benefit close to 3,500 indigenous people in seven indigenous reserves. It is estimated that close to 200 peasant families will also benefit from the implementation of agroforestry productive systems and the transfer of forest conservation techniques. The project proposes activities aimed at easing the pressure on deforestation and biodiversity while helping to generate opportunities for vulnerable communities in the area, including small-scale farmers and indigenous communities. The project will also have a positive impact on regional productive associations, local governments and environmental authorities.The importance of the Amazon rainforest is known globally: it is the world’s largest carbon sink, serving as a powerful climate regulator. It is one of the planet’s great biological reserves, home to millions of endemic species, purveyor of ecological services and refuge to several indigenous communities.“This project ratifies the World Bank’s commitment to the environment and the Colombian government. We support the Vision Amazonia initiative and we are confident that it will contribute to the preservation of biodiversity in Colombia’s Amazon region,” said Gerardo Corrochano, World Bank Director for Colombia and Mexico.Back in 2013, the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development presented Vision Amazonia, an initiative that seeks to establish partnerships between the country and the international community around development models for the reduction of carbon emissions in these rainforest areas. Moreover, at the United Nations Climate Change Summit Colombia ratified its pledge to reduce Amazon deforestation to zero by 2020. The project is the first one that falls under Vision Amazonia and is aligned with the activities and goals of the National Development Plan for the Protected Areas Program, which will contribute to the preservation and conservation of the existing network of protected areas and the interconnectivity between the Andes and the Amazon regions via the Macarena mountain range.Between 1990 and 2010, Colombia lost 6.2 million hectares of forest. Preliminary figures indicate that if this situation persists, by 2020 it will have lost 1.3 million hectares. The main cause is extensive livestock farming, followed by colonization.Project implementation will be supported by the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development; IDEAM; National Natural Parks, and the SINCHI Institute for Amazon Research and Natural Heritage. Show Less -

GEF Grant: US $10.4 million equivalentProject ID: P144271Project Description: The objective of the project is to improve governance and promote sustainable land use in order to reduce deforestation and... Show More + conserve biodiversity in the Colombian Amazon. Show Less -

Local communities in Peru are helping make decisions that impact the country's forests—including the Amazon, which covers over half of the country, but is being cleared for subsistence farming... Show More + and industrial agriculture, as well as due to illegal logging. With support from the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and the Forest Investment Program (FIP), Peru's Ministry of Environment, along with agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture, is preparing a program to keep the natural forest standing and to reduce carbon emissions. Local communities are also being engaged in Peru’s REDD+ readiness programs. To date, over one thousand people have been reached through workshops, roundtables, and direct coordination on REDD+.Going even further than meaningful participation is the joint preparation of the Saweto Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Peru. The Bank is supporting Indigenous leaders to design the Saweto DGM that will be governed by them and will be implemented at the community level. The Saweto DGM will finance land titling and community forestry--both high priorities for Indigenous Peoples. Implementing forest strategies, from the bottom upLikewise, Nicaragua has developed a participatory platform on the country’s forestry strategy operating at the political, technical and local implementation level. The RACCN (Northern-Caribbean Autonomous Region of Nicaragua) and the RACCS (Southern-Caribbean Autonomous Region of Nicaragua) have actively contributed to the technical and political dialogue through this platform. As such, this three-layered structure channels the national forestry strategy proposals from the bottom up prioritizing inputs from the community-level.New partnerships for forestsAction on REDD+ is strengthening partnerships between Indigenous Peoples, forest dependent communities and the programs that are intended to preserve their natural forest and reduce emissions.In Mexico, REDD+ is developing in the context of a strong land tenure system and community-based forest activity. Peru and Nicaragua illustrate how REDD+ can shape the spirit of dialogue with indigenous communities, and enable social inclusion in forestry. Involving local communities in the design, decision making and management of forest programs makes them more successful—and this is promising for forests, and forest communities. Show Less -

2. How did the Amazon Regional Protected Areas (ARPA) benefit traditional communities in the Amazon?Returning benefits to the people who rely on an area's resources are crucial for a protected area... Show More + to succeed. In some areas, traditional communities had sole access to the land or retained fishing and hunting rights that were otherwise regulated. Families also gained access to government programs that provided conditional cash transfers and rewards for following management plans and enforcing regulations. Lastly, we were successful because of the vast system of protected areas. Rather than implementing individual parks or reserves, we looked at the landscape as a whole while designing the system of protected areas.3. How will you replicate the lessons you learned in the Amazon in your marine management plans?In marine management, as with the Amazon, we will look at traditional community needs first; biodiversity opportunities second; and finally, the needs of the extractive or fishing industries. This gives secure access to communities without handicapping ecosystem productivity or the private sector’s returns to the economy. This way we harmonize production and protection.Also, we are taking a "seascape" approach that is similar to what we did in the Amazon. This means looking outside the borders of the protected area, at the interactions between land and water use within and beyond the borders of the protected area.4. In what ways is marine management fundamentally different from land management?For one, we know far less about marine ecosystems than we do about forests. Mapping biodiversity hotspots is much harder and much more expensive in the ocean than it is on land.The greatest difference is in enforcement. Some of the Amazon protected areas are so large, they are bigger than countries. Marine spaces are even larger. In the Amazon, enforcement is done by local populations or experts on foot, by car or boat or via aerial surveillance with borders marked with simple signs. In the ocean, enforcement must happen by power-boat, which is more expensive and labor intensive.It is also harder to define the limits in a marine habitat. Land areas have natural and traditional boundaries such as rivers and when necessary we can easily put up signs. In the ocean, borders must be marked with buoys anchored to the seafloor, which, as you can imagine, is technically complicated.Only 1.57% of Brazil’s seaboard territory is currently a protected area. The new project aims to expand coverage to 120,000 km2 of new territory, and help preserve a coastal zone that is one of the world’s richest and most diverse. Protected areas—which now cover around 15% of the planet’s land and 3% of its ocean—are an important tool for better resource management. As World Bank experience in Brazil has shown, protected areas can help preserve natural resources and boost the livelihoods of local communities. Show Less -

Brazil without BrazilOne species worrying experts is precisely the one that gives Brazil its name. Used by Portuguese settlers to make dyes and violins, the Brazil tree has long been threatened by the... Show More + degradation of the Atlantic Forest, one of the regions with the highest biodiversity in the country.What other activities threaten flora? Basically, unsustainable agricultural and construction (mainly infrastructure projects) practices, as well as fires caused by humans. Together, these causes represent nearly 88 percent of the threats recorded in the book. But according to Martinelli, calculating numbers and risks is only a first step. The next step is to plan the most urgent actions to save biomes and species. To this end, a map of priority areas for the conservation of threatened flora will be published in December.Environmental leadershipA few weeks ago, the Maués Ecological Station in the southern Amazon region became a conservation site. Following years of discussion, mining in this area – a refuge for primates and 600 bird species –can now only take place in specific areas and following federal government standards."Protected areas play a vital role in the preservation of flora and fauna. They are the basis of a strategy to conserve species for future generations,” says Adriana Moreira, who oversees the World Bank’s biodiversity work in Brazil.Flora can also be preserved outside the conservation areas. Technology plays a key role in the recovery of the most affected species. For example, today it is possible to store seeds for years and cultivate some types of plants in botanical gardens until their native habitat recovers. However, these efforts require ongoing financing, which researchers in the area cannot always guarantee.Whether in the rainforest or in the city, Brazil needs to better preserve its native species. The largest country in Latin America is one of the signers of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Aichi Targets (2011), which calls on countries to prevent the extinction of threatened species.Signers of the convention also agree to conserve and better administer their biodiversity. “Precisely because it has so much diversity, Brazil should play a leading role in this effort,” says Martinelli. “I hope that the study of threatened species will encourage the country to consider a more balanced development model. Show Less -

Distinguished hosts and guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be addressing such an eminent gathering of protected area professionals, conservation experts and decision makers. Thank you for... Show More + this opportunity to connect with old and new partners to strengthen and move forward the protected area agenda at a crucial juncture for parks, people and the planet.Some of you may remember me in previous incarnations, managing projects on biodiversity, land degradation and territorial approaches to climate change for UNDP, or pushing for the Sustainable Development Goals initiative from within the Colombian government. I moved to the World Bank in July with the same drive and passion because I now want to focus on implementation. As head of the new Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice at the World Bank, I see great opportunities to carry the conservation agenda forward by managing natural resources within the broader paradigm of poverty reduction and long-term sustainable, resilient development.Getting steps right to maximize present and future benefitsLet me start off with a story. A couple of months ago, on my first World Bank mission, I was in Tanzania. A country renowned for its national parks and protected areas. Indeed, national parks and the wildlife they host are the backbone of a tourism industry that accounts for a critical 13% of the country’s GDP and 400,000 jobs. Tourism spurs investment and business in other sectors. It’s also the largest export earner—which means it underpins the exchange rate, which makes much else in the economy possible.Nature-based tourism is thus a driver of growth in a country which still faces challenges in eliminating poverty. However, the natural assets that generate vital revenue face a range of threats.Some are more intractable such as the gruesome poaching crisis that has decimated elephant populations in the Selous Game Reserve, and demand concerted, collective international action. Other threats, however, could be readily addressed if the true worth of protected areas were understood. In the Ruaha national park, where 10% of the world’s remaining lions live, the Great Ruaha River is running dry and wildlife is in decline. Why? Irrigated rice fields have increased 10-fold in the upper watershed above the park in the last few years. Because so much water is being diverted upstream, for several months every year the Great Ruaha River simply does not run, with concomitant impacts on wildlife. Streams and watering holes are drying up. In addition to impacts on the Park, this limits livelihood options for downstream communities.This illustrates a story that is played out constantly all over the globe. The true worth of ecosystem services, now and for tomorrow, is often not taken into account. Decisions are made without fully understanding the trade-offs, without identifying win-win options that would so readily deliver co-benefits. Instead, poor management of resources limits development opportunities, generating cascades of social, environmental and economic externalities. Perversely, the very assets that would lead to long-term collective well-being are eroded as a result of investments that focus on narrow short-term gains and fail to appreciate that environment is actually a core part of the development equation.Tanzania’s government and business community are committed to ensuring that nature-based tourism remains a strategic driver of sustained growth. The Ruaha story is simply a reminder that resilient, sustainable development demands that we look at the big picture, one in which the health of both people and nature are deemed to be equally important as they are fundamentally interconnected. Ignoring nature inevitably erodes human wellbeing.When I started to position the SDGs I was told by many that they had to focus only on people. I always wondered exactly how that could serve humankind given that we happen to need the planet for life. Clearly we still need to make the case for the symbiotic relation between planet and people—and in this context then to make the case for protected areas. This is a vital task because unless we succeed, we will have a hard time steering decisions toward win-win solutions that help us simultaneously feed billions of people AND conserve habitats AND respond to climate change.Protected areas should be part of a broader poverty reduction strategyOur task, however, takes place against a sobering backdrop.It is what I call "receding reality"—the new normal. This is the slow onset degradation and depletion of our planet that lulls us into passivity. The fish are smaller, the forests emptier, the streams dry... Slow onset is not just sea level rise. Slow onset speaks to our progressive acceptance of a less rich and diverse world. This we must cognize and rebel against. Because a diminished planet also means that our collective global society will have failed to understand the inherent worth of protected areas.Current trends are encouraging—the global coverage of protected areas is increasing from around 9% at the first Rio meeting, to the current 15.4%. We’re on track to reach 17% coverage of terrestrial and inland water areas by 2020, one of the Aichi targets. However, much more effort is required if we are to reach the targets for oceans and marine areas. We also need to ensure that these areas are vibrant and real, not paper parks.The World Bank is proud to be working with governments to advance this can-do agenda. Our work supporting the Brazilian government through the Amazon Region Protected Areas program (or ARPA), for example, has largely contributed to global progress on protected areas, by establishing, expanding and strengthening the protection of 60 million hectares of rainforest.We’re also seeing more and more protected areas that are created with people and livelihoods in mind: ARPA’s success is largely founded on empowering Indigenous Peoples and building assets for the poor: the program has helped secure Indigenous Peoples’ rights over 45 million hectares of land, and enhanced their livelihoods by promoting the sustainable use and marketing of forest resources.My hope is that these best practices are carried forward into the new Parks of tomorrow. We know conservation must benefit nature-dependent people; we know how to do conservation without fencing out the people.But we can’t rely on protected areas alone. How will we feed 9 billion people in 2050? Where will land, fodder, fuel and jobs come from? Put simply, the forest will burn if people are hungry. Agriculture and fisheries drive the majority of biodiversity loss. We must look beyond the traditional boundaries of conservation, fisheries and agriculture, understand that there can be no divide, and address poverty and food security full-on. We need to promote the sustainable climate-smart intensification of agriculture, through landscape approaches, sustainable fisheries, agro-forestry, and the restoration of degraded lands. Protected areas should be positioned as core components of broader landscape and seascape development strategies. Our challenge is to ensure that Ministers of Finance and Planning and Agriculture understand protected areas are part of a functional and productive economy. By protecting and enhancing natural capital not only in parks but along watersheds, on farm land, in pastures, in freshwater and coastal waters, we can transform the economic prospects and food security of millions of people. We’ve seen it, for example, in Indonesia, where a project worked with 358 village communities to protect coral reefs, while improving fishing practices. Coral reef grew on average by 17% in 6 out of 7 districts, and communities’ income increased by 20% since 2008. Now in its third phase, the COREMAP project is working to mainstream an approach that makes coral reef protection planning an integral part of development planning and improves the welfare of coastal communities. Natural infrastructure delivers.Truly sustainable development requires policies and economic incentives, practical tools and safeguards to ensure that protected areas sustain critical ecosystem services and promote resilience and human well-being. In the coming year, we can set the pathway to that future if we can strengthen the role of protected areas in defining and delivering on the world’s Sustainable Development Goals, and by embedding protected areas in the procedures that define society’s development planning and underpin economic decision making. That's why I'm excited about the future despite the worrying trends: there are proven "win-win" solutions. We have the tools to ensure that both conservation and development are fully convergent.Steering development choices toward long-term gainsThis brings me to my second point: the rebellion against a receding reality only works if enough people in different walks of life join the good fight. And on this score there is also hope. Around the world we are witnessing a growing rejection of business as usual, with many taking risks and making hard choices to halt the planet’s decline, to slow down the destruction.Yesterday, China and the U.S. exemplified historic leadership in the run up to Lima, putting forth commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that should drive all Parties to greater ambition.Witness too the recent New York Declaration on Forests, with robust commitments to eliminating deforestation by national and sub-national governments, CSOs, Indigenous Peoples, companies. There is for example, a growing focus on the impact of commodities and consumer goods and the role that protected areas and natural ecosystems can play in sustaining commodity supply chains.The new Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture will be a decisive player in this effort.In addition to this, there is a growing chorus of governments and others seeking to look beyond GDP. More and more countries are asking for support from the Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services Partnership—WAVES.Natural capital accounting has already helped Botswana factor water constraints in its policy choices. In the Philippines’ biodiversity-rich Southern Palawan, where there are numerous competing demands on resources, ecosystem accounts are expected to provide decision makers with the tools they need to make no-regrets decisions on ecotourism, agriculture and mining. This work is challenging from a methodological point of view but politically vital. It is helping governments go beyond annual growth statistics and understand the importance of natural assets over a longer time horizon.Programs helping countries plan for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) are also having an impact, by creating an incentive for decision makers from different land-use sectors to sit around a common table, take out maps and negotiate a shared vision for the future that leaves valuable forests intact. We are creating and applying solutions to address and correct market, institutional and policy failures, by transforming how we measure and account for development and by providing clear incentives across sectors for responsible private and public investment in natural capital. And let me share, as a final thought, why this concerted, collective action is so critical in a time of receding reality. There is no question that the moral imperative of our time is poverty eradication. While we know that extreme poverty has declined, the proportion of people at risk of falling back into extreme poverty remains stubbornly high. And everyone one of us in this room knows that gains on this front will be lost unless we change the current development paradigm.The World Bank Group adopted two goals last year: to help countries end extreme poverty by 2030 and boost shared prosperity for the bottom 40% of the population in a sustainable manner. The second goal speaks to the rising expectations of a global emerging middle-class. We must also be prepared to manage the changing consumption patterns of this growing global middle class as this will further exacerbate resource depletion and stretch the carrying capacity of many productive systems. This demands structural, systemic changes that go beyond minimalist, quick-fix approaches. It is our collective task to ensure that those changes have at their core an understanding of landscapes and seascapes as an integral, vibrant whole. That the true worth and value of protected areas is reflected.We have come a long way from the Stockholm Conference of 1972. We must seize the moment. Follow up on the NY Declaration on Forests. Support climate-smart agriculture and fisheries. Ensure that forests are meaningfully included in future climate change agreements. Support the active and integrated implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. We must live up to the Promise of Sydney and implement solutions that cross boundaries and deliver lasting results for parks, people and planet.At Sydney this year, this must be our pledge. There is no plan B for people and the planet. Thank you. Show Less -

Food security and the environmentA warmer climate will have a direct impact on the agricultural industry. Therefore, food production not only needs to be sustainable, but also “smart,” both to reduce greenhouse... Show More + gas emissions and to increase resilience to the effects of climate change.At the same time, consumers need to stop wasting food. Currently, they waste some 1.3 billion tons annually, causing US$ 750 billion in environmental damage, according to several organizations. “Climate-smart agriculture is an opportunity to comprehensively address food security, benefitting the adaptation to and mitigation of impacts,” said Bakarr.That opportunity will create benefits far beyond food production. Greater sustainability and the more effective use of resources will increase carbon absorption, improve land and soil conditions, enable effective watershed management and allow the conservation of biodiversity in agricultural areas.Hunger and povertyAlthough there is concern for the planet, an undeniable truth must be raised: more than 800 million people around the world, an estimated 49 million of whom live in Latin America, have no secure access to the daily foods they need to survive, according to the FAO.Hunger and malnutrition are the leading health risk and the number one cause of child mortality worldwide. No region is immune. In Latin America, an estimated 7 million pre-school-aged children suffer from chronic malnutrition, the majority of whom are of indigenous or African descent, according to the World Food Program.In Latin America, as in the rest of the world, hunger is intimately linked to poverty. Hunger will not disappear with increased production alone; inequalities must also be addressed. “When a household develops strategies to fight food insecurity, those with more resources develop the most appropriate strategies,” explained José Cuesta, Development Economist at the World Bank and author of the Food Price Watch study. “The poorest citizens sell their productive assets, take their children out of school or stop eating for a while,” he added.Thirty percent of Latin Americans depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Major droughts during the first four months of 2014 severely affected crops in Central America. Nearly two million people in the region faced food insecurity during that period. According to Cuesta, in our region, unlike in other parts of the world, the rise of the middle class over the past decade can present additional challenges in terms of feeding everyone. “When a person increases his socioeconomic status, their food waste tends to increase, something that the poor cannot allow to happen,” he said.Poor harvests also drive up food prices, which in turn generate more poverty. It is a troubling scenario for a region that is home to a third of the world’s arable land. Nevertheless, experts agree that with adequate management, the Latin American agricultural sector still has significant potential for feeding future generations. Show Less -

According to Juergen Voegele, Senior Director, Agriculture Global Practice, “We’re tackling the food insecurity challenge by implementing integrated solutions that cut across sectors. It’s not just a matter... Show More + of sustainable resource management, more efficient storage or even producing more food. It encompasses all of the above—and more.”The Bank is helping countries sustainably manage landscapes such as farms, forests, watersheds and coastal fisheries so that they are more productive. Community management of fisheries has helped restore fish stocks in Senegal, where according to Issa Sagne, President of the Local Committee of Fishers of Ngaparou, “Now, the fish are really abundant.” Climate-Smart Agriculture, which aims to produce more food on less land, improve climate resilience and reduce negative environmental impact, has tripled maize yields in Zambia and improved the incomes of farmers in Costa Rica. The Bank is also empowering the farmers that produce much of the world’s food in other ways, including by providing crop insurance, expanding access to financial services and improving access to resources for women.But food security is not just a question of increased productivity. Up to 1/3 of all food produced is wasted—mainly during production, storage and transport. To reduce food waste, the Bank is helping countries implement modern food storage and distribution systems, as well as improve the agro-supply chains. The Bank is also addressing food crises and price volatility—which makes food unaffordable for the world’s poorest—by contributing to tools that improve agricultural market transparency and monitoring global vulnerability to food crises.The World Bank is tackling food insecurity with a holistic approach—using its expertise in agriculture, sustainable management, logistics, irrigation, and research and analysis to implement integrated solutions. Feeding the world is a big, complex task, and the Bank is more committed than ever to putting nutritious food onto the plates of the world’s poorest people. Show Less -

Washington, September 30, 2014 – Belizeans will manage natural resources more sustainably in Key Biodiversity Areas, and alternative livelihoods opportunities will be provided to local communities as a... Show More + result of a US$6 million Global Environment Facility (GEF) project approved by the Board of Directors.“Like the rest of the Caribbean, Belize is most vulnerable to hurricanes. It is only by protecting its forest and rich environmental resources, as well as supporting reforestation that it can mitigate the effects of climate change,” said Sophie Sirtaine, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean.Belize has the largest barrier reef in the Americas and the highest forest cover in both Central America and the Caribbean, including intact virgin forest. The country is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Despite having succeeded in preserving its forest and outstanding biodiversity to a greater extent than its neighbors, forest cover has decreased over the last decade. Belize’s rich biodiversity remains under threat by deforestation as a result of the expansion of agriculture, housing, tourism, and forest fires.The Management and Protection of Key Biodiversity Areas project will:Increase the number of hectares under sustainable forest management by more than two folds in targeted areasEnhance biodiversity protection in six targeted protected areasProvide alternative livelihoods options and training to local forest communities on sustainable harvesting and marketing of non-timber forest productsStrengthen capacity of the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, and other institutions to improve management and compliance monitoring of forest resources and environmentThis five year project is financed by a US$6 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and US$3 million in kind counterpart financing from the Government of Belize. Show Less -